Does the knowledge-sharing platform specialist matter in knowledge sharing for secured KMS?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Knowledge remains a competitive, intangible resource in today’s contemporary organizations. Most knowledge management initiatives aimed at leveraging knowledge for sustainable corporate performance. Knowledge sharing is fundamental to growing intellectual capital. Security on knowledge resources is a prerequisite to quality knowledge content. To increase trust in both knowledge content and security, a knowledge-sharing platform specialist (KsPS) plays a significant role in the overall management and authentication of corporate intellectual capital. OBJECTIVE: This paper analyzes the contributive role of the KsPS and investigates whether or not KsPS matters in strengthening knowledge quality and security in organizations. METHODS: We conducted a broader review of relevant literature on issues relating to knowledge management, knowledge security, KsPS, and sharing platforms to have a better understanding of roles played by the KsPS. Besides, 18 KsPS from 15 organizations were interviewed through telephone or Skype regarding their role expectations in knowledge sharing, quality, and security in the knowledge management system (KMS). Thematic analysis was done to obtain the relevant themes for the study. RESULTS: The study established that the KsPS provides quality facilitative roles in knowledge-sharing processes for secured KMS. Thus, the KsPS significantly contributes to knowledge codification and internalization. CONCLUSIONS: With very little recognition of the KsPS in the existing KMS literature, this study draws attention to the management of organizations about the need to invest in a KsPS for quality knowledge support services and increased knowledge security.